J. Fitzgerald Group

J. Fitzgerald Group (informal “JFG”) is a North American company that designs and implements online sales enablement programs, websites and all traditional forms of advertising, marketing and communications for global client partners.
Established in January 2002 in Lockport, New York, in a rented storefront, J. Fitzgerald Group obtained Volvo Construction Equipment and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) as first official clients.
One year later, J. Fitzgerald Group formally established full operations at [http://maps.google.com/maps?hlen&q12%20west%20main%20street%20lockport%20ny&um1&ieUTF-8&saN&tabwl 12 West Main Street, Lockport], in a five-floor, 150-year old brick and limestone building on the banks of the historic Erie Canal.
With 14 employees in administration, creative, technology, production, fulfillment and financial management, J. Fitzgerald Group is a small but well-known ad agency in Western New York. The company also has a five-member executive advisory board.
Founders
J. Fitzgerald Group is owned and led by equal partners, the founders Jack Martin and Carmel Cerullo-Beiter.
Jack Martin, president, (born 1964 in Lockport) is a former press secretary to New York State Assemblyman Matthew Murphy and advertising manager at New Holland.
Carmel Cerullo-Beiter, vice president, (born in 1963 in Buffalo) is a former art director and general manager at Quiller & Blake (Niagara Falls, NY) - where she began her advertising career in 1987.
J. Fitzgerald Group began operations at 12 West Main Street on June 1, 2003. Martin and Cerullo-Beiter purchased and remodeled the neighboring 14 and 16 West Main buildings in 2005.
The buildings are located west of Erie Canal [http://maps.google.com/maps?hlen&q12%20west%20main%20street%20lockport%20ny&um1&ieUTF-8&saN&tabwl Locks 34 & 35]. Neighboring the offices of Henry W. Schmidt, Jr., Niagara County Assistant District Attorney, the J. Fitzgerald Group buildings remain one of the cornerstones of the neighborhood, and of the ad agency’s persona.
Philanthropy
A cornerstone of the agency’s philosophy, J. Fitzgerald Group annually supports various Western New York philanthropic events and creative efforts, including: CreateAthon, The Dog Day of Summer, and the annual Polar Bear Swim for Sight.
Building History
The first public record of the existence of J. Fitzgerald Group’s current headquarters at 12 West Main Street, Lockport, NY, is from 1860.
Since then, the building has housed a number of businesses in intermittent years: J.M. Lindsley Boots & Shoes, McMaster Merchant Tailors - Men’s & Boys Clothing, Hoffmaster & Beccue, Perry G. Wadhams Groceries (Wadhams was also Section Superintendent of the Erie Canal), Archer dressmakers, and Bernard O’Hearn, a barber.
At various times, the building has also housed John Barone Shoe Service, Justin J. Burns Realty, Kohl’s Motorcycle Service and Sales, a framing shop, and an art gallery.
In 1910 four-story back porches were added to the building at 12-16 West Main Street, and then, later, a fifth story was added to 12 West Main Street.
“Unexplained sounds and happenings” have been reported after dark for years, by inhabitants and visitors. The buildings owners have alleged that the mysterious occurrences are the haunting activities of Philip Heary (d. 1934) who lived and worked at 12 West Main Street for nearly 40 years. Heary was a bartender at 12 West Main when it was the popular Philip Heary Saloon. His wife, Margaret, managed the saloon after Philip’s death.
The 12-16 West Main Street buildings luckily avoided the government-funded, but failed Urban Renewal program in the 1970s when most of Lockport’s beautiful, ornate historic buildings were torn down and later replaced with lower cost, lower maintenance structures or left vacant.
Photos exist today of future President John F. Kennedy speaking on Main Street adjacent to the buildings while campaigning during a visit to Lockport. Lockport has also been the birthplace or home to many noted figures including supermodel Kim Alexis, inventor Birdsill Holly, volleyball creator William Morgan, author Joyce Carol Oates and automotive reporter Brock Yates.
Client Partners
J. Fitzgerald Group’s client partners include Volvo Construction Equipment North America, a customer of Payback Incentives and i-Marketing Online. J. Fitzgerald Group has provided all forms of advertising, marketing and communications support to Volvo Construction Equipment for over a decade.
J. Fitzgerald Group clients include Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Columbus McKinnon Corporation,Bubba BurgerEastern Hospitality Advisors, Fiber-Span, Groeneveld, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Isuzu Industrial Diesel Engines, Komatsu, Lockport Dental Group, , and Reid Group, among others.

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